I think we'll beat Spurs, and from there I think we'll go on to win the title.
The Manchester Title Race
- Thread starter charlenefan
- Start date
I think we'll beat Spurs and just fall short of the title. I think it's incredible what Fergie has done given all the injuries, but it'll have proved just too much in the end.
This is one of the most nervewrecking title races in recent years and it'll only get worse. On par with the one in 2009 when Liverpool was competing for some long time.
I think we have a good chance if we beat Tottenham this weekend. On paper, City really have a more difficult run in while we have quite an easy one. And City's away results last few weeks aren't great. But we've seen in the past that games are not won on paper, especially close to the end of the season.
I hope we could have a bit of a margin before the game at the Etihad though. Unlike some others here, I'm not so confident we can get a result there.
I think we have a good chance if we beat Tottenham this weekend. On paper, City really have a more difficult run in while we have quite an easy one. And City's away results last few weeks aren't great. But we've seen in the past that games are not won on paper, especially close to the end of the season.
I hope we could have a bit of a margin before the game at the Etihad though. Unlike some others here, I'm not so confident we can get a result there.
The Tottenham game is our second last 'big' game of the season. Other than City at Wastelands we have..
West Brom (H), Wolves (A), Fulham (H), Blackburn (A), QPR (H), Wigan (A), Aston Villa (H), Everton (H), City (A), Swansea (H), Sunderland (H).
We're in with a great chance. I really believe bringing Scholes back could be as big a signing or catalyst as buying Cantona back in 1992.
West Brom (H), Wolves (A), Fulham (H), Blackburn (A), QPR (H), Wigan (A), Aston Villa (H), Everton (H), City (A), Swansea (H), Sunderland (H).
We're in with a great chance. I really believe bringing Scholes back could be as big a signing or catalyst as buying Cantona back in 1992.
It's Sunderland away unfortunately. That will be a tough place to go needing a win.
If we beat Spurs and don't win the title then it means we've fallen to some real inferior opposition, I can't see that happening. Yes they'll be dropped points but not enough for them to be decisive (not when I assume there'll be dropped points from City as well)
What about losing to City away? Not a real inferior opposition are they? I'm not saying we will but this won't be easy and a feckin important game.
They beat Norwich through heroics by golden oldies who can't play every game, never mind save the team every game. Fergies ringing every last drop out of a team ravaged by injuries this season. I just think Citys stronger squad will tell in the end unfortunately.
I've said since around the new year that if we were within five points of City after the Spurs game, we'll win the league by taking a point from our trip to Etihad. I stand by that, and think that even with a loss against Spurs, we'll win it if we're able to get something from the derby.
Right now, I think we'll take at least one from Spurs, and with three I'd be happy to wager that we'll take home #20 come May.
Right now, I think we'll take at least one from Spurs, and with three I'd be happy to wager that we'll take home #20 come May.
I'm not saying we will but this won't be easy and a feckin important game.
The title wont be decided on that game alone
If we beat Spurs I really dont see injuries being that much of an issue with our remaining fixtures, once we get past Spurs up until City away (which I think has draw written all over it) we've got an almost perfect set of fixtures
10 March - West Brom home
18 March - Wolves away
26 March - Fulham home
2 April - Blackburn away
7 April - QPR home
9 April - Wigan away
14 April - Aston Villa home
21 April - Everton home
I really dont think we could ask for easier than that tbh and yes we will drop points in that run but not as many as City imo who conversely have
10 March - Swansea away
19 March - Chelsea home
24 March - Stoke away
31 March - Sunderland home
7 April - Arsenal away
9 April - West Brom home
14 April - Norwich away
21 April - Wolves away
4 very tough away fixtures there and Chelsea at home is by no means a foregone conclusion either
EDIT: Being extremely kind on City I've got the two teams level on points by the time the derby hits, that almost certainly will not happen
On paper, we look like we should win almost all of our games and City look like they could lose 2 or 3 or atleast draw a few. Its very vital we keep the pressure on and City can crack at any moment.
There's no chance we'll win all those "easy" games.
Why do you fixture-listers never learn your lessons?
Why do you fixture-listers never learn your lessons?
Dont forget that Wolves away for City very possibly could be a direct decider for Wolves being relegated or not. If Wolves are in that position, that match is by no means easy for City.
West Brom won't be easy for either team. They have the 4th best away record in the league (or tied for 3rd with Spurs on points alone).
The fact they haven't played their two toughest away game's yet could be a factor in that.
I must say I am surprised by City's consistency. For all the talk of how experience is needed, and how the squad is new, defence is not as good, they have done remarkably well. I keep waiting for them to hit a bad patch, but they really haven't had any. Hopefully they will, and the pressure will get to them. But now they are just destroying the teams mostly. They have good goal difference, and keep a lot of clean sheets.
What does everyone think - what will happen when it's a squeaky bum time?
What does everyone think - what will happen when it's a squeaky bum time?
They have had extremely few injuries. As soon as Kompany was out for just a few games they looked very, very vulnerable. Its incredible the luck they've had with being able to field their first 11 week in week out.
It's always easy to pick on the few flaws and highlight them as a possible weakness but if there is any weakness then it's their away record;
Bolton 2-3 Man City
Tottenham 1-5 Man City
Fulham 2-2 Man City
Blackburn 0-4 Man City
Man Utd 1-6 Man City
QPR 2-3 Man City
Liverpool 1-1 Man City
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
West Brom 0-0 Man City
Sunderland 1-0 Man City
Wigan 0-1 Man City
Everton 1-0 Man City
Villa 0-1 Man City
7 wins
3 draws
3 defeats
Listing it like that it doesn't show that many slips but given they've got to go to Arsenal, Stoke, Swansea, Norwich & Newcastle there's enough there to give us hope that they could well slip in 3 or 4 of those games
Bolton 2-3 Man City
Tottenham 1-5 Man City
Fulham 2-2 Man City
Blackburn 0-4 Man City
Man Utd 1-6 Man City
QPR 2-3 Man City
Liverpool 1-1 Man City
Chelsea 2-1 Man City
West Brom 0-0 Man City
Sunderland 1-0 Man City
Wigan 0-1 Man City
Everton 1-0 Man City
Villa 0-1 Man City
7 wins
3 draws
3 defeats
Listing it like that it doesn't show that many slips but given they've got to go to Arsenal, Stoke, Swansea, Norwich & Newcastle there's enough there to give us hope that they could well slip in 3 or 4 of those games
I honestly think they won't crack easy. The likes of Yaya, Silva, Mancini have all won things at the highest level and will share that experience with the rest of the squad. These are experienced players we're talking about, they aren't going to bottle it like Arsenal.
They'll obviously have a small blip but we will too. We're going to have to win it by beating them at their place.
10 March - West Brom home
18 March - Wolves away
26 March - Fulham home
2 April - Blackburn away
7 April - QPR home
9 April - Wigan away
14 April - Aston Villa home
21 April - Everton home
That really is a great set of fixtures coming up after Spurs. We'll have some awkward Europa League ties wedged in there somewhere, but it would be a poor show to come away from those with anything less than 20 points.
18 March - Wolves away
26 March - Fulham home
2 April - Blackburn away
7 April - QPR home
9 April - Wigan away
14 April - Aston Villa home
21 April - Everton home
That really is a great set of fixtures coming up after Spurs. We'll have some awkward Europa League ties wedged in there somewhere, but it would be a poor show to come away from those with anything less than 20 points.
Break it even more down and they only have 2 wins and have only scored 4 goals in their last 7 aways, and those wins were 1-0s against shite sides - Wigan and Villa. Theres no reason based on form and recent results to believe that we will drop more points than City in the last 12 fixtures.
I firmly believe that as long as we dont lose at the Etihad we will do this.
It's pretty much an excellent away record to be fair. You've listed 5 away games and said they could drop points in 4 of those - there's no way. If they drop points in two of these I'll be happy. I think they will do Norwich and Swansea easily, the other three could be more tricky but they'll win at least one.
Swansea and Norwich away are probably going to be tougher games than Newcastle tbh, Newcastle have a habit of showing teams to much respect
They might be in the mix for Europe though which will push them. Swansea will probably open themselves up and get battered, Norwich will be a test.
They've turned pretty crap haven't they, and they were very lucky to beat an awful Villa team. That run of Swansea and Stoke away, with Chelsea in the middle, could well see us go top. Once we are top, I fancy City will start to panic slightly.
Swansea have a terrific home record, so I'm not sure it'll be as simple as getting open and getting battered.
Pretty sure of the big teams we're the only ones who have actually won at Swansea, Spurs and Chelsea drew there while predictably Arsenal lost
They didnt show us much respect at St. James'
We can definitely win the rest of our home games, though I think what people are suggesting is that we'll drop less points than City such that we'll end up with more points than them. Or are you suggesting which teams you play are irrelevant to results?
They did to City and Liverpool away though, Pardew and the players even admitted as such. Chelsea also got what turned out to be a very comfortable 0-3 win against them as well. They may have taken points off us but they've rolled over for our nearest challengers
It's tight. It's scary. It's too close to call.
It's either us or it's them.
So really there's no alternative. Put the calculators away and pray to any God you believe in.
We have to win this title. Surely the players understand that.
Come on you Reds!
It's either us or it's them.
So really there's no alternative. Put the calculators away and pray to any God you believe in.
We have to win this title. Surely the players understand that.
Come on you Reds!
Can't see us slipping up to WBA (h) again, nor Blckbrn (a) which can be an occasional banana skin but we'll have to be careful at Wolves where we come unstuck now and then. Otherwise, a decent result at Spurs and I'll be pretty confident. We're bound to drop unexpected points and the usual despair where we least expect it - but I reckon if they can stay ahead of us with those fixtures, they'll deserve it, inasmuch as a near billion pound team can deserve it. A refreshed Tevez will be a shot in the arm for them, which is why they've allowed him to bum them but we should have a few returning from injuries too.
Gun to head: United for #20
Gun to head: United for #20
It might come down to the game at Eastlands.
The way I see it is the pressure is on them. With all the money they've spent, they have it all to lose. For us, we are re-building and we are progressing yet still find ourselves chasing yet another title. We've won it so many times that missing out on this occasion won't be like it was in say 1992 or 1995. We'll be right back in it next year and the year after. Whether it's this year or next year, number 20 isn't too far away.
We lost to Blackburn at home, we could lose to anyone anywhere really. It's football.
The City game is the huge one - the 6 pointer that will likely decide it. All other games, we can't take points off them, but this one we must.
We tend have to have one stupid result every season. WBA wont be a walkover but can't see us slipping up. (Although they have got a couple of draws at OT recenty.)
I can see us losing any game on our schedule, but still if you look at the quality of opponents left between the two Manchester teams, it's reasonable to think United have an advantage in playing somewhat less successful teams.
If we play our best eleven (injury permitting) then i can see us doing okay, but if we continue to chop and change then that could cost us the title.